Bunny2, do you have the epipens? You should always have more than one. (I've never needed more than one, but that's what they say.) To confirm Wills, I'll have to say that an epipen is easy to use. It's easier, in my opinion, than measuring out the correct dosage of paracetamol. (Damn teaspoons.) Take it out of the yellow thing, take the grey cap off, put it on your son's outer thigh and push (no need to take any clothes off). You'll feel it, he'll feel it and scream (it really does hurt for a few seconds, but it's so much worse to have it done in the hospital, even if only because they do the epinephrine subcutaneously and it hurts more) .. anyway.. hold it in for 3 calm seconds (1...2...3...) and pull it straight out. Give him a few seconds and he'll be Mr Happy and Peppy Guy. At which point you should take him to the hospital. It's worth the time to take him somewhere that caters to children. You have time and you'll have to be there a while for observation but the initial dose usually does it.
Forgot to mention that he will want you to do something and not mind the epipen. Robin, I think you should know this too: she will use the epipen if she needs to. The reactions are terrifying, but in a good (??) kind of way. You and they know something has to be done. They will want you to do something. They will do something, if need be. And, thinking about it, that's just my experience. Something different may work for you and yours. Yeah, real helpful, I know.
Anyway, get the epipens, don't worry about the training. Buy a practice epipen bah, can't find it Robin, where can she buy one?
I do let my son eat "may contain peanuts" things (he's allergic to peanuts and not so much anymore to milk). It's up to you. I let my 18 month old run around the garden unsupervised, also.
Robin, the voice mail I got from my son's allergist was preceded by a nurse telling me my sister had just had a baby. At 25 weeks. So I was probably the most casual mother ever to receive news that my son was allergic to milk (anaphylactic shock twice already) and peanuts. My sister's baby is now a healthy, hearty, hellish 5 year old. Later (and again and again and again and so on) I freaked out about the implications of the allergies.